Saturday, July 28, 2012

By Brian Liskai

FREMONT, Ohio – Bryan Sebetto took a huge step toward defending his Kistler Racing Products FAST (Fremont Attica Sprint Title) Championship Series title Saturday at Fremont Speedway. Sebetto, who lived dangerously on the edge of the track throughout the feature, would earn his third victory of the season at “The Track That Action Built,” to pad his FAST point lead as he looks to take the $10,000 top prize.

Sebetto, who also has three wins at Attica Raceway Park in 2012, avoided disaster on lap 10, as he bobbled over the cushion in turns one and two, allowing Duane Zablocki to drive around to take the lead. However, Sebetto was able to keep his composure and drive back around Zablocki a lap later and then held off Craig Mintz on a restart with just two laps to go, to score his 20^th career win at Fremont, moving him into a tie with Paul Strasser for 26^th on the track’s all-time win list.

“I got over that cushion about half the times I tried to go through one and two,” said Sebetto beside his Hammer Pallets, Crown Battery, JLH General Contractors, Meggit Powder Coating, OC Shocks backed #24h.

“I couldn’t ask for a better year with Randy and Lisa Hammer and the whole team with Aaron Hammer, Timmy Pearson and Guhn and everyone that helps out on this deal. They put a dream team together. We built this team from the ground up,” continued Sebetto. “Our Gressman motors are just running top. They’ve given me the best equipment and the most comfortable equipment I can be in. This is the result…we’re winning races.”

“I know it’s Kistler Engines Night and I want to thank Paul (Kistler). He’s been a big inspiration in my racing career. I started working for him when I was back racing 305s and even though we aren’t running his engines any more he’s still been a big supporter of mine,” added Sebetto.

Tiffin, Ohio’s Paige Polyak used a lapped car as a pick to take the lead from Zack Kramer on lap six and then survived a couple of late race cautions to score his second win of the year at Fremont. It was her fifth career victory at the track.

“I love the track like this. When I saw hot laps and I knew we were going out first, I knew the track would hold some moisture and there was a nice ledge…I love ledges. It bit me a couple of times down in three and four, but I held on,” said Polyak beside her Steyer Seeds, JLH General Contractors, Meggit Powder Coating, HE Rudy Trucking, Handy Grafix, NAPA of Bryan, Pit Stop Carryout backed #27.

“Those restarts were tough when I looked up and saw John Ivy was behind me. I know he’s really good on the bottom and I had to hit my marks up top. There’s just something about this track that suits my style. When there’s a ledge out here I’m pretty fast,” added Polyak.

When something broke on leader Dustin Keegan’s dirt truck, Cory Ward was there to take advantage. The Bellevue, Ohio driver led the final six laps to score his third win of the season and 21^st of his career at Fremont. He now is tied with Bryan Scott for 24^th on the track’s all-time win list.

“I think Dustin had us covered. But we’ll take it,” said Ward. “I have to thank Budweiser, Precision Body and Frame, B&L Plumbing and Heating, Hiser’s Transmissions, Jim’s Auto Salvage, Ward’s Mini Warehousing, Blue Chip Machine and Tool, Ninke Lawn Service, TJ Hosang Construction and Eastside Café backed #18w.

Steve Pocock, 17, of Clyde, took the lead with four laps to go when early leader Brandon Myers experienced mechanical woes in the Surf’n Sweepstakes Internet Café Sports Compact feature. Pocock would drive his Computer Man, Engler Printing, East Side Detailing and Car Wash, Jon Ickes Attorney, Wilhelm Auto Parts, Crown Battery backed machine to his first career victory.

“We had a lot of problems last week but we figured out what was wrong. We had the wrong set-up. We changed the air pressure and had fun,” said Pocock of his Spider Monkey Racing machine.

Zablocki and Sebetto would bring the field to the green in the 30-lap Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprint feature. Sebetto would bolt into the lead with Zablocki trying to hold of Brock Martin, Brad Bowman, Jack Sodeman Jr., Craig Mintz and Byron Reed. Sebetto set a blistering pace, hitting lapped traffic by the fifth circuit as Zablocki ran comfortably in second while Martin had his hands full with Bowman and Mintz for third.

Sebetto would encounter heavy lapped traffic that was racing side by side in front of him by the ninth lap, allowing Zablocki to quickly close. When Sebetto bobbled in turn two on lap 10, Zablocki dove under him to take the lead. Zablocki’s run up front was short lived, however, as Sebetto would drive around him on lap 11 to take the lead.

The first caution would then fly for a Matt Linder spin with Sebetto leading Zablocki, Mintz, Bowman, Martin, Reed, Rob Chaney, Sodeman and Dean Jacobs. With a clear track, Sebetto would fly back into a commanding leader as Zablocki tried to hold off Mintz.

Cory Crabtree would spin at the half-way point to bring out the yellow. Again, this gave Sebetto the clean air he needed to build a sizeable lead when the green reappeared. Mintz and Zablocki would continue to wage war for second with Bowman, Martin, Reed and Chaney in tow.

Sebetto would encounter lapped traffic on lap 21, allowing Zablocki and Mintz to close. Mintz would move into the runner-up spot on lap 24. With three laps to go, Sebetto once again found himself in heavy traffic as Mintz slowly reeled him in. But, just as Mintz closed to within a couple of car lengths of Sebetto, Chris Andrews would spin in turn two, setting up a two lap shoot out.

Sebetto had a lapped car separating him and Mintz on the restart, with another lapped car before third place Zablocki with Martin, Reed, Chaney and Jacobs in tow. Sebetto would hit his marks perfectly the last two laps to take the win while Mintz, Zablocki, Martin and Chaney would round out the top five.

“When you lead that long and I saw Mintz was up to second…I knew I had to hit my marks down in one and two. Those last two laps I really tip-toed into the corner and made sure I didn’t drive it through the cushion. I kept screwing up down there and I kept trying different entries and it seemed like I couldn’t hit the right one. Every time I tried a different entry I got the same result…I was plowing through the cushion,” said Sebetto of his late race restart.

Kramer and Polyak would pace the field in the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprint feature. Kramer would bolt into the lead with Polyak racing to his inside as John Ivy and Jamie Miller battled for third with Nate Dussel, Jimmy Colvin, Stuart Brubaker, Dustin Dinan and D.J. Foos in tow.

After two laps were scored, Dan Hammond would spin to bring out the caution. On the restart, Polyak again pressured Kramer for the lead with Ivy and Miller in tow. By lap six, the leaders were racing into lapped traffic and Polyak used a lap car as a pick in turns three and four to trap Kramer and drive by for the lead.

A spat of cautions would then ensue with seven laps scored. When the green finally flew again, Ivy would drive by Kramer for second with Dussel moving into fourth and Foos taking fifth. Polyak would encounter lapped traffic again on lap 11, but Ivy could not close, with Foos taking third.

The caution would come out again on lap 12 for a multi-car pile-up involving Alvin Roepke, Brandon Moore, Dustin Stroup and Brubaker. On the restart, Ivy would drive under Polyak, but she held her momentum to continue leading.

Polyak would begin to pull away with Ivy comfortably in second while Foos, Dustin Dinan, Colvin and Kramer followed. Dinan would move into fourth with five laps to go as Colvin attempted to fight back.

The final caution would fly with six laps remaining for a Stroup spin. With a clear track, Polyak would again drive away to take the win while Ivy, Foos, Dinan and Colvin rounded out the top five.

Art Howey Jr. and Ward would bring the Fremont Fence Dirt Truck feature to the green with Howey take the lead over Ward, Kent Brewer, Dustin Keegan, Jim McGrath Sr., Jimmy McGrath Jr. and Art Ball in tow. After one lap was recorded, Jeff Ward would spin to bring out the caution.

On the restart Howey would lead while Ward battled Brewer and Keegan for second. The caution would fly again after three laps were scored for a Scott Beard spin. A lap and another caution, this one for Brian Melnek Jr. and Brian Sorg. Howey would continue to lead with Ward and Keegan battling for second. Keegan would around Howey for the lead on lap six, with the caution flying a lap later when Howey spun in turn two. On the restart, Jeff Ward would spin again.

Keegan would begin pulling away once the green reappeared as Ward now had to hold off Jimmy McGrath Jr., Brewer and McGrath Sr. The yellow flag came back out when Chuck Roelle stopped on lap 10. Again Keegan pulled away on the restart while Ward, McGrath Jr., Brewer, Ball and McGrath Sr. raced hard for second.

It appeared something broke on the right front of Keegan’s truck on lap 14 as Ward was able to drive under for the lead with McGrath Jr., Ball and Brewer in tow. The final caution would fly on lap 16 for a Melnek spin. On the restart Ward would continue to lead as Ball blasted into second with Keegan, McGrath Jr., Brewer and McGrath Sr. in tow. McGrath Jr. would move into third on lap 18.

Ward would pull away for the win with Ball, McGrath Jr., Brewer and McGrath Sr. rounding out the top five.

In the 12-lap feature for the Surf’n Sweepstakes Sports Compacts, Amanda Shammo and Tyler Sherman would bring the field to the green, with third starter Brandon Myers driving around both for the lead with Erik Paulson moving into second and Steve Pocock taking third. Pocock would drive around his teammate Paulson for second on lap three and began closing in on Myers. The caution would fly for debris on lap seven, with Myers experiencing mechanical woes to end his lead.

Pocock would inherit the lead with Shammo driving into second while Paulson had his hands full with Chevy Famer. Paulson would get a flat tire with three laps to go after balling with Shammo for second. Pocock would drive to the victory over Shammo, Chevy Farmer, Kyle Famer and Derek Genzman.

Fremont Speedway will be back in action Saturday, Aug. 4 for Burger King Night. It will be a Kistler Racing Products FAST Championship Series night for both the 410 and 305 sprints with the dirt trucks and sports compacts also in action.

Go to www.fremontohspeedway.com for more information.

Fremont Speedway - 7/28/2012

Kister Engines Night

Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprints (27 Cars)

[#]-Starting Position

Qualifying - Callie's Performance

1. 14H-Todd Heller, 12.797; 2. 5R-Byron Reed, 12.837; 3. 55-Brad Bowman, 12.838; 4. O9-Craig Mintz, 12.855; 5. 83M-Broc Martin, 12.867; 6. 3-Mike Linder, 12.907; 7. 23JR-Jack Sodeman, 12.997; 8. 24H-Bryan Sebetto, 13.032; 9. 9Z-Duane Zablocki, 13.053; 10. 29-Rob Chaney, 13.066; 11. 53-Phil Gressman, 13.078; 12. 45L-Brian Lay, 13.098; 13. 16-Chris Andrews, 13.102; 14. 35-Stuart Brubaker, 13.132; 15. O-Chris Bell, 13.133; 16. 97-Dean Jacobs, 13.142; 17. 1X-Matt Linder, 13.188; 18. 60C-Cory Crabtree, 13.219; 19. 2+-Brian Smith, 13.223; 20. 5K-Adam Kekich, 13.233; 21. 51-Roger Campbell, 13.244; 22. 3T-Tony Beaber, 13.317; 23. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.364; 24. 5T-Travis Philo, 13.483; 25. 60-Jody Keegan, 13.610; 26. O6-Brandy Bower, 13.983; 27. 48-Mike Burkin, 14.273

Heat 1 - (8 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 16-Chris Andrews[2] ; 2. 97-Dean Jacobs[1] ; 3. 23JR-Jack Sodeman[4] ; 4. 29-Rob Chaney[3] ; 5. O9-Craig Mintz[5] ; 6. 2+-Brian Smith[7] ; 7. 14H-Todd Heller[6] ; 8. 60-Jody Keegan[9] ; 9. 3T-Tony Beaber[8]

Heat 2 - (8 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 35-Stuart Brubaker[2] ; 2. 24H-Bryan Sebetto[4] ; 3. 1X-Matt Linder[1] ; 4. 53-Phil Gressman[3] ; 5. 83M-Broc Martin[5] ; 6. W20-Greg Wilson[8] ; 7. 5R-Byron Reed[6] ; 8. 5K-Adam Kekich[7] ; 9. O6-Brandy Bower[9]

Heat 3 - (8 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. O-Chris Bell[2] ; 2. 60C-Cory Crabtree[1] ; 3. 45L-Brian Lay[3] ; 4. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[4] ; 5. 55-Brad Bowman[6] ; 6. 5T-Travis Philo[8] ; 7. 51-Roger Campbell[7] ; 8. 3-Mike Linder[5] ; 9. 48-Mike Burkin[9]

B-Main - Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 14H-Todd Heller[1] ; 2. 5R-Byron Reed[2] ; 3. 2+-Brian Smith[4] ; 4. 3-Mike Linder[3] ; 5. W20-Greg Wilson[8] ; 6. 60-Jody Keegan[10] ; 7. 5K-Adam Kekich[5] ; 8. 5T-Travis Philo[9] ; 9. 51-Roger Campbell[6] ; 10. 3T-Tony Beaber[7] ; 11. 48-Mike Burkin[12] ; 12. O6-Brandy Bower[11]

A-Main - (30 Laps)

1. 24H-Bryan Sebetto[2]; 2. O9-Craig Mintz[5]; 3. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[1]; 4. 83M-Broc Martin[4]; 5. 29-Rob Chaney[10]; 6. 5R-Byron Reed[8]; 7. 97-Dean Jacobs[16]; 8. 3-Mike Linder[9]; 9. 23JR-Jack Sodeman[3]; 10. W20-Greg Wilson[20]; 11. 53-Phil Gressman[11]; 12. 2+-Brian Smith[19]; 13. 14H-Todd Heller[7]; 14. 35-Stuart Brubaker[14]; 15. 45L-Brian Lay[12]; 16. O-Chris Bell[15]; 17. 16-Chris Andrews[13]; 18. 55-Brad Bowman[6]; 19. 60C-Cory Crabtree[18]; 20. 1X-Matt Linder[17]

Hard Charger: W20-Greg Wilson[+10]

Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints (22 Cars)

[#]-Starting Position

Heat 1 - (8 Laps - Top 8 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 1-Nate Dussel[3] ; 2. 5R-Jordan Ryan[1] ; 3. 9-Jimmy Colvin[4] ; 4. 27-Paige Polyak[6] ; 5. 11F-D.J. Foos[5] ; 6. 8J-Jess Stiger[2] ; 7. 5M-Brandon Matus[8] ; 8. 22D-Dan Hammond[7]

Heat 2 - (8 Laps - Top 8 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 4M-Jamie Miller[2] ; 2. 35-Stuart Brubaker[1] ; 3. 10X-Dustin Stroup[4] ; 4. 8K-Zack Kramer[-] ; 5. OO-Alvin Roepke[6] ; 6. 10-Josh Harrison[5]

Heat 3 - (8 Laps - Top 8 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 5-Dustin Dinan[2] ; 2. 4X-John Ivy[7] ; 3. 68G-Tyler Gunn[5] ; 4. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[3] ; 5. 10S-Roger Shammo[4] ; 6. 25-Jason Keckler[6] ; 7. 7P-Brandon Moore[1]

A-Main - (25 Laps)

1. 27-Paige Polyak[2]; 2. 4X-John Ivy[5]; 3. 11F-D.J. Foos[13]; 4. 5-Dustin Dinan[8]; 5. 9-Jimmy Colvin[3]; 6. 8K-Zack Kramer[1]; 7. 5R-Jordan Ryan[9]; 8. OO-Alvin Roepke[14]; 9. 68G-Tyler Gunn[11]; 10. 8J-Jess Stiger[16]; 11. 25-Jason Keckler[18]; 12. 10S-Roger Shammo[15]; 13. 10-Josh Harrison[17]; 14. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[12]; 15. 5M-Brandon Matus[19]; 16. 15-Gary Benjamin[22]; 17. 10X-Dustin Stroup[7]; 18. 35-Stuart Brubaker[10]; 19. 1-Nate Dussel[6]; 20. 7P-Brandon Moore[20]; 21. 22D-Dan Hammond[21]; 22. 4M-Jamie Miller[4]

Hard Charger: 11F-D.J. Foos[+10]

Fremont Fence Dirt Trucks (24 Trucks)

[#]-Starting Position

Heat 1 - (8 Laps - Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. D1-Dustin Keegan[2] ; 2. 18-Jeff Ward[4] ; 3. 45-Brian Melnek Jr.[6] ; 4. 5-Jim McGrath Sr.[8] ; 5. P51-Willie Keegan[1] ; 6. 9-Curt Inks[3] ; 7. 99X-Gene Potridge[7] ; 8. 95-Keith Sorg[5]

Heat 2 - (8 Laps - Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 8KB-Kent Brewer[3] ; 2. 99-Art Howey Jr.[6] ; 3. O1-Art Ball[8] ; 4. 23M-Brad Mitten[1] ; 5. 115-Ben Good[5] ; 6. 73-Cody Basiner[7]

Heat 3 - (8 Laps - Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 18W-Cory Ward[3] ; 2. 5JR-Jimmy McGrath Jr.[1] ; 3. 3R-Chuck Rolle[7] ; 4. 16-Steve Sabo[6] ; 5. 14-Scott Beard[2] ; 6. 85S-Bradley Stuckey[8] ; 7. 88-Dan Roepke Jr.[5]

A-Main - (20 Laps)

1. 18W-Cory Ward[4]; 2. O1-Art Ball[7]; 3. 5JR-Jimmy McGrath Jr.[8]; 4. 8KB-Kent Brewer[3]; 5. 5-Jim McGrath Sr.[5]; 6. D1-Dustin Keegan[6]; 7. 23M-Brad Mitten[10]; 8. 95-Keith Sorg[21]; 9. 9-Curt Inks[16]; 10. 99X-Gene Potridge[19]; 11. 14-Scott Beard[15]; 12. 73-Cody Basiner[17]; 13. 45-Brian Melnek Jr.[11]; 14. 99-Art Howey Jr.[1]; 15. 85S-Bradley Stuckey[18]; 16. 3R-Chuck Rolle[9]; 17. 18-Jeff Ward[12]; 18. 4X-Brian Sorg[22]; 19. 115-Ben Good[14]; 20. 16-Steve Sabo[2]; 21. 88-Dan Roepke Jr.[20]

Hard Charger: 95-Keith Sorg[+13]

Surf'n Sweepstakes Sport Compacts (8 Cars)

[#]-Starting Position

A-Main - (12 Laps)

1. 77-Steve Pocock[6]; 2. 14-Amanda Shammo[1]; 3. 29-Chevy Farmer[7]; 4. 92-Kyle Farmer[8]; 5. 25-Derek Genzman[4]; 6. ?R²-Erik Paulson[5]; 7. 32-Brandon Myers[3]; 8. 5-Tyler Sherman[2]

Hard Charger: 77-Steve Pocock[+5]

©2012 - Results Provided by: Computer Man Inc. Fremont, OH